The Award of Excellence will enable Vu to pursue a degree in medicine at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She is the daughter of Ngoan Van Vu and Tam Thanh Nguyen.

Vu is among 100 students nationwide to receive the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship and Award of Excellence.

Since its creation in 1932, the Fellowship Program has become one of the Society’s most visible and financially well-supported endeavors, allocating nearly $380,000 annually to deserving students for first-year graduate study. Currently, 60 Fellowships of $5,000 and 40 Awards of Excellence of $2,000 are awarded each year.

The selection process for the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowships and awards of Excellence is based on the applicants’ undergraduate academic performance; leadership and service on the campus and in the community; evidence of graduate potential; personal statement of educational perspective, purpose and objectives, and evaluation reports from three individuals who are in a position to attest to the student’s performance, citizenship and character.

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. Annually, it inducts more than 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni.

The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in North America and the Philippines. TAMIU’s Chapter was formed in 2005.

Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors.

Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify.